Jonathon Miller » Uncategorized

Relieved of Duty

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:05:42 +0000

At approximately 0500 hours local time this morning a Marine died. Not while on patrol and not from enemy fire. He died of a final, well fought, battle. He passed away while at home, peacefully in his sleep, while being watched over by his wife and sister-in-law. He was my step-father. His entire life was spent in the service of others. He joined the Marines at far to young an age and though he never saw fighting was deployed to Korea. He was later deployed to Vietnam where he served multiple tours of duty in the jungle. After Vietnam he went on to serve with the LAPD. He continued his military service in the Army Reserves where he was attached to a civil affairs unit. He spent the last years of his military service training soldiers how to be soldiers. At a time when most men are enjoying retirement and spending most their days fishing he continued to work, because he had and he loved what he did. He even volunteered to reactivate and deploy with local units to aid in the Katrina relief effort. He ended his professional life working twenty plus years in security, again watching out for the welfare of others.

In his personal life, he was married three times, losing his first wife as a result of her pregnancy. He later remarried to a woman with two older children who needed his love and guidance. His third marriage was to my mother, when my brother and I were still in elementary school. He never tried to replace my father, but he always treated us like we were his own. He took on a task no one had any right to expect him to shoulder and helped raise two more children that weren’t his. I think he did a pretty decent job.

At his retirement speech he quoted General McArthur, “Old soldiers don’t die, they just fade away.” I think that is how most soldiers and marines want it. He did his job and left his legacy in the guidance and leadership he provided to younger men. Then moved on. He fought as long as he could. He once told me, “Sometimes fighting does no good. Sometimes you have to put up the best fight you can, then count your loses and move on.” His time to stop fight and move on came this morning.

Marine folklore holds that a Marine needs permission to die. He has long since been relived of his military obligations and often joked that my mother was his CO now. Late last night my mother prayed that God would take him, effectively giving he permission to die. A Marine to the end, he waited for his final discharge before he left. He is survived by two children, their spouses and his wife.

My only hope is that he can now find peace. I doubt he will rest, it’s not in his nature.

It may be inappropriate for someone who isn’t a marine to say so but, Semper Fi John R. Burns. You will be missed, but never forgotten.

Help Daniel Raise Money for MDA

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:52:42 +0000

My good buddy, and owner of The Good Brewer, Daniel Goodman is helping raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He going to get arrested “for good” and will be will until the money is raised. I could go on, but I’d rather just share the email he sent out:

Hi All,

I just wanted to send a little reminder about the MDA donation drive I am involved in. The final date for donations is rapidly approaching, and I would appreciate any help you can give me in raising money. A $30.00 donation is enough for testing for children with Muscular Dystrophy. Any amount will help. Use the link on the bottom of the page to donation to the cause. Also for those folks who are local, you can see me “Locked Up” at Casa Oroszco, in Livermore, on March 10^th. I will be there from 1:00 to 3:00. Thanks!

I am involved raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association this year. In a neat promotion I will be arrested for “Good” on March 10^th and I need help in raising my “bail”. I’d very much appreciate your help with a small donation and to forward on my message to friends you have that would interested in helping the MDA and Jerry’s Kids.

Cheers,
Daniel

Here is the link to follow to take you to secured site to make your donation. Thank You.

https://www.joinmda.org/livermore2010/daniel

Please do what you can to help him, and the MDA, out. If you happen to get any pictures of Daniel, or anyone else participating, let me know. I’ll share the pictures here.

And We’re Back

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:54:23 +0000

I have been helping to care for a sick family member the last few days. On the up side, he is improving and should be home soon. There is always a lot of waiting involved with such things. As a result, I have had time to come up with new ideas and get some writing done. One of my new ideas will be posted later today. Keep an eye out.

A Day Without Cats

admin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:38:01 +0000

I know. It is unimaginable for so many of us. The folks over at Urlesque are organizing a day without cats on the internet. It’s not that they don’t love them. Quite the opposite. They just want to give them a break and allow other animals and chance to shine in the spotlight. Are they crazy? Maybe. We will only know if we throw our full support behind them. This painful day of the fasting of the felines is set for September 9. That’s 9-9-09 for all those folks who need a device of some kind to remember much of anything.